Guwahati, 23 October (HS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a strong warning against illegal mining, stating that forest officials must be held accountable if unauthorised quarrying continues without their knowledge. Meanwhile, he has defended eviction drives in protected forest areas, asserting that safeguarding forests is essential for the state's future.

Acting on the Chief Minister's instructions, National Health Mission (NHM) Executive Director Dr Abhijit Sharma visited the historic AOD Hospital in Digboi.

Speaking about alleged illegal stone quarrying in Hojai, Sarma said he had received information that two or three illegal quarries were operating in the district. Questioning the role of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), he said, If the Chief Minister knows about this, why does the DFO not know?

The Chief Minister further stated that if the information proved correct, the DFO should be suspended immediately. He maintained that such activities could not take place without the knowledge of the concerned forest official and reiterated his government's firm stand against illegal mining.

Addressing another meeting, Sarma defended the government's eviction drives, saying that demolitions were not a matter of pleasure for any Chief Minister.

Running bulldozers is not something that gives a Chief Minister happiness. If anyone thinks we derive sadistic pleasure from using bulldozers, that is not true, he said.

The Chief Minister added that evictions were emotionally difficult, irrespective of a person's religion. However, he stressed that protecting reserved forests was essential for the state.

If there are no reserved forests in the state, we will have nothing left. Forests are absolutely necessary, Sarma said, underscoring his government's commitment to protecting forest areas.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash